The Sun. — London, England, 1818-09-30 00:00:00

AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. FOR THE SUN. Ma. EDITOR,—As the meeting of the Sove reigns, now ahout to be held at Aix-la-Chapelle, has attracted public notice to that city, a alight sketch of it may be acceptable to your Readers. Air-la-Chapelle has claim to great abtignity, having been mentioned by C ae sar and Tacitus, and, probably, first drew attention by its thermal springs, which hive been much celebrated in all ages within our knowledge. Front these it was substantively called Aqua, with different genitive cases annexed, as circumstances called for them. The French gave it the name of Aix, to which was added la-Chapee, from a chapel built there by Charlemagne, %vb.:, made that city his fa vourite residence. Several Councils and Synods hare been held, and two Treaties of Peace con cluded there ; that of 1668, between Lewis the Fourteenth and Charles the Second of Spain ; e'nd that of 1748, for the pacification of Eutope. At present it is annexed, with certain territories, to the dominion of Prussia. who wrote in 1734, makes the number of houses between 2,400 and '2,500, and the in habitants about ten titws as many. In 1807 the i*opulation was estimated at more than 27,000 ; when 1 was there in the autumn of 1.815, the city had not the apilearalice of being so large or so well peopled. Its walls and ramparts were then in much decay. The revenue in ISO?, was I.ated between 150,000 and 160,000 francs, or about 70 01., taking a franc at eleven pence, which k there its value. The town lies iu a hollow or valley, surround el by an agreeably diversified country, though woodsseem to predominate. The climate is un steady., and rain is frequent. Spring, in general, is said to be tardy in its advance, summer short, autumn iong and agreeable, and winter tedious; the air is not remarkable for salubrity, nor the people for loiter life. That Charlemagne was the (amlet of the city is sufficiently disproved; but his title to being its restorer is unquestioned. This Mouarch died in 814, and left 00. directions concerning his inter meta. Where his remains should be deposited was, however, obvious ; and they were placed in the vaolt of the present cathedral, which was begun by him in 796, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Pope Lemi the Third, in 804. with the cere monious splendor of that time. Front this build ing, then called a chapel, as beforeementiooed, ..../ix•la-Cilapelte is derived. titlly, in his history of France, metoions the sepulture of Charletwagne as of extraordinary magnificence and expellee. The church is also described by him with pomp, but not with justice. What reutaios Of it, however, is not common in the architecture. The es.teriov has nothing curi ous, being blocked tip by ()wises, .and otherwise kept from view. WHIM, it presents au inner an d cotter octagon, with the addition Of a small chancel. The central octaeon is divided by eight pillars, and may he called the nave; tlal target• oettgoo embraces this every nsy, except the dmed, and imay be term ed tic ;iisle• Immediately above this aisle is y, with it in shape arid width, opening 00 the nave, and divided by eight pillars above! e.:••vose below. The tailing of the g4ltery is divided into comparttnents, six of which are decorated witis tolerable paintings ; an organ occupies the oesvteth division of th.e gallery, and the eighth is the belfry. Above the nave is a rich dome, front which is suspended a large rude crown of gilt copper: this hangs a little above the ilead, awl spreads itself over an obloog marble slab, inserted in the floor, on which CanDlo Illoeno is siotply inscribed brass letters. Thi s slab is in the place of the ancient and celebrated monoment of Charlemagne, which was taker' to the Museum at Paris in the time of the Itevolu tioit ; probably it is now restored. The princi pal altar has nothiug attractive. There are many relics highly valued, and shown by a priest with parade. Oar guide whispered, with sanctified mystery, the fee of the exhibitor to be three francs, and that of Eris assistant one. The doors of a cabinet in the vestry were accidentally open, tool had on their inside some small highly finished painting : I could not learn the 'object or the toaster, but I mention it as worthy of attention.' There are several chapels dispersed in the aisle, as osiod, awl, as usual, numerous votive offerings to each, indicative of the power or influence of the saints to whom they are dedicated. Among the many objects of piety in this church is a wooden case, carefully locked, said to contain the chair of the infant Christ : it is placed on tivo sup porters, about four feet high, and separated from each other to make a passage. Om guide assured us, with much siguificant confidence, that who ever had weakoess, or other cant plaint, in the back, would be instantly cured by passing between the supporters, if he had faith. This poor fel low had himself what is called a broken back, and, as we by involuntary impulse turned to look on him, which he mistook for distrust, he ex claimed voila to pretive! pointing, at the same time, to votive offerings that hung round. Poor man, he bad the appearance of possessing atm- A•ieut faith,• and 1 ant convioced he was sincere in all lie uttered. Permit the to observe here, that most of the guides 1 had occasion to employ were ignorant and superstitions; and 1 often had occa sion to lament the injury they du eo the character -of their different places of resieeoce, as well as to religion ; for travellers too frequently judge of :foreign society with haste, by which justice is .greatly confounded with error. Intelligent guides 'might even be anointed by Municipalities, and their fees prescribed. t speak with gratitude of ,the people of die Cott4inent in general; where I liave oavelled they are polite, and often highly liberal, and I have received occasional attention :and information from priests in churches, which was m at Led with urbanity mid benevolence. The Hotel de Ville is in the Grande Place, and 5s said to have heel) constructed in 1353. The • front bad several statues of Emperors crowned at .Aix-la-Chapelle. It is surmounted by two towers, CZIC of which contains the clock and belfry, front eelooice alarms are sounded wheo occessatly% he c.:o2c! . .i.s.said to corgaiu the. al . chiv.‘:s of the c ry , and a watchman is stationed there; at night, to announce the hour. These towers differ front each other in bulk and height, and. though not of the same design, are in the style called mo restle ; a style not uncommon where the house of Spain had power for considerable time ; of which the Grande Place at Brussels is a curious example. There is a good stair-case to the Ho tel de Ville, and above is a large room of audience, richly painted, in fresco, in historical and other subjects. This 'gout is entered by several doors, intended originally to prevent difficulties, arising from contention in precedence. The . Courts of Justice were held in different parts of this lutild ing. in the ascent to the chamber of audience is a large picture, said to be by Vandyke, but it is (Wally Unworthy of that Master. ln front of the Matson de Ville, and about the middle of the Grande Place, is a fountain of cold water, erected io 1:353. Though large and cum brous it is a Credit to that age. A large stone basil' forms the base, from which rises a quadrattgolar pillar, that supports a second basin, which is copper ; over this another pilaf rises, and serves as pedestal to a pedestrian statue of Charlemagne in bronze. This figure holds a ,velure in one and a globe in the other; the head is crown ed, and a sword hangs at the side. It was carried to Paris in 179-1, but so much %vas the loss of it regretted by the inhabitants that it teas restored, and, replaced iu 15. The water plays through several pipes from the pedestal, l into the copper basil', from whence it falls into that of stute.— Eagles are introduced as part of the general de- The w a ter is conveniently managed for public use, aud the whole is inclosed by iron railing. There is a small poor Theatre at Aix-la-Cha pelle; but no regular company of actors. The most frequented part of the city is the Comphausbasi. Here arc the usual places of pub lic amusement ; such as the old and Bev.' I:CdOtitt!, or assembly-rooms, where gaming has been the principal employment, during the season of the waters, which is front May to November. These places have very little worth notice. Ou the whole the toner contains nothing that can detain the traveller who has seen other places of Similar resort. There are above forty baths at Aix-la-Chapelle, each of which can contain several petsotts at a rime; the price of bathing diffets at different baths, but is no where dear ; a bath is supported solely for the use of the poor. There are seven or eight hotels connected with these baths, in aohich there is convenient lodging, &e. 1 shall not trouble you with the analyses and tempera- ' tunes of r %via.' their me dical uses, which have beta so often .deseribed in many scientific books. There are manufactures carried on in Aix-It- Chapelle, and its neighbourhood, that are not in considerable ; some of these are woollen of dif fereot classes. 1 hare seen some very hoe, but dear. These are said to have employed in 1807, 25,000 hands, and to have amounted in value to 8,000,000 francs, or about .33ii,fiti61. The needle manufactories employed between 501 k atid 6000 persons at the saute time, and the produce was Vait.heti xt 00,000 francs., or *hart 27,500/. This manufacture is allows- cl to be very inferior to English needles. There are also manufactures of pins. The immediate neighbourhood of Aix-la-Cha pelle is highly pleasing. The Lausherg or Belle- Vile (the largest of some sandy nionotains just outside the town) is very elevated, and commands a magnificent view, to a considerable extent, every way. A rich undulating country, touch wooded, interspersed with costotry houses and • cottages, and apparently well peopled, is directly within view, and the town is looked down on as at abase of the mountain. 1' he road to the top it windiug, and sufficiently good for carriages. A house for rural entertainment, tastefully built, and very agreeably placed, is high on the side of the mountain. On the summit is a stunt obelisk, erected in 1807, which, under the pretence of being dedicated to Science, was, more truly, -con secrated to chat extraordinary man who (level' 10• St an opportunity of plantiog his 1121 Me. The east side is thus inscribed,—.4 Napoleon le Grand, premier Empereur des Francais et Rui d' Italie. The other 961C3 have long astronomical inscriptions. The Prussians displayed considerable forbearance in pettnitting this obelisk to remain uninjured. Jiorsette, an agreeable village about a =Lie from Aix-la-Chapelle, is built on the side and summit of a hill; it has cold and warm mineral springs, and is much resorted to, being cheaper than the city. At Om entrance of this village is a large open spring, encompassed by it brick cy• liodrical bonding, and o hie') has the appearance of ebullition, obough winch below boiling tempt:- rature; it is, however, asserted to be sufficiently hot to dress eggs. Other skirts of Aix•la-Glot pelle furnish several pleasing promenades. After admitting that urbanity is general in most parts of the Continent, usatsily visited by the English, candour obliges me to confess that po• liteness appeared to lessen Asetween Brussels and Aix-la-Chapelle ; yet l *would not be understood to mean that the people are deficient in necossary attention, when they ase themselves treated with proper respect. I thought the police of Aix-la- • Chapelle unusually rigid, and the officers not too complaisant, in ISIS ; but, as travellers blioVild make the best of occurrences as they arise, I had no doubt that strictness, at least, was useful, if not necessary, at that moment. It scats then, fine coatinnes in several places to be, the fashion to speak disadvantageously of the Prussians, parti cularly of their military ; but I must take this opportunity of saying, that 1 was in Brussels the whole time that detachments of the Prussian army were sourrchitig through that place, on their return from France, and parties of different arms were qtrarteved where I lodged; yet, though their very name appeared to produce terror, and though the weather was severe, in cold and raiu, the men whom 1 had an opportunity of judging by con ducted themselves with patience, were contented with the provisions they rectived,.and harmless and quiet under privations, end sometimes incivility. A want of system in sonic of the official depart ments certaiuly occasioned partial disorder and dis content, told operated .tigainst both parties; but 1 thought, and thall ever think it hard, that the , brave soldiea of the Prussian army should fader, THE SUN. 11-01,EM 4.021 i 141. CE RE TA I.`,U NI AI! ttc.“ LONDON, IrEDIVESDA Y, SEPTEMBER 30, 1818. THE QUEEN.—The following is the litpllttin which was issued this (lay : " KF.W PALACE, SEPT. 30. " The QUEEN litS slept well in the night, and ter MAJESTY is a little better thic morning. (Signed) " F. !OILMAN. " 11. lIALFORD:' The PRINCE REGENT was with Her MAJESTY shout SIX o'clock yeAterday evening, and the in erview lasted a full hour. We recei►ed this morning the Paris Papers of Sunday last. The 3loniteur comains a Royal Ordonnance, c►►nvoking tl►e Electoral Colleges for the elect iota of Deputies for the Departments of the second Series, in the room of those who have ceaseel by lot to be Members of the Chamber. The Colleges are to assemble, some of them on the Nth inst., and the others on the 26th. The following :ire eXtnicts:- PARIS, SEPT. 27.—Tlie King yesterday transacted business successively with the Chancel lor of France and the Minister of General Police. The privilege of currying on Gaming-houses in Paris has been granted to the city, -on condi tion of paying the sums charged upon tiie pro duce. The Municipal Council, on accepting the grant, have declared, that the net profits of the Gaming Establishments shall be given up to the Hospitals of Paris, and paid into the chests of those Establi-shmentt to supply the wants cl the poor. " The vintage is newly finished in the neigh bourhood of Paris. The produce is so abminch!nt that, in some quarters, a suTheient number of ves sels could not, for 5044.1& time, be procured to hold it. Citl'itVan% of amateurs are proceeding to the Cabarets in time environs of Paris, to drink wine at S and 10 sons time litre, the abundance of the vin tage having towered the stnall wines to this mo dest price. " Two elephants will shortly arrive in France, purchased in Bengal foe the Menagerie of the Jardin du Roi. FIVE ?Pk CENTS. Saturday . 74 f. 90 c. M 1 ,8.1111111) ETOCIC. Of the 2.2e1 Mauch, 1817, 6l; f. 25c. 9/41 Sept. 1817 B4l. 95c. , 1"4! March, 181 s, , Q 1. 93c. 49.1 Sept. 1818, " DRONTIIEINI, SEPT. 2.—The King of . Swe. den and the Prince Royal arrived here yesterday The coronation will take place the ith instant it the Cathedral. " HAMEllttGli, SEPT. 12.—The Blucher Clot) held their third n►eeting with great festivity the day betote yesterday. Count lilucl►er of Altona was io the Chair. " BERLIN, SEPT. 15.—The Prince Royhl o Prussia Proceeds to Breslau, to receive the Em presses of Russia. " AI X•L A-CHAPELLE, SEPT. 23.—1 t is said, the Prince Nletternich has declared to several persons, thaL the Congress will only be formally occupied by the question respecting the evacuation of France. The other subjects of dis cussion alluded to by several Journals, may be treated of in familiar convetrations, but will not he discussed in a diplomatic or solemn milliner. " Very advantageous propositions have been made to the Grand Duke of Baden respecting the exchanges and ccsE•ions dennualvt! of Austria, iu pursuance of the Ticati of Frank ;11 fo' of 1814. )1 111 l'l " The entry of the Allied Sovereigns conducted with the greatest pomp. A °di?, line of soldiers, with new uniforms a nd ell of mutts, will be stationed front the Weiden, a distance of two leagues, to this The King of Prussia will precede his /W ait lies, and accompany them into the city." Ps4 l4 ' The Letter from our Correspondent 'l t which we insert this day, contains" such Ix": though brief recital of the Massac re at ISO t : that we were inclined to omit some passages'r; ther than outrage the feelings of our gederb, but as a stronger interest is attached t o the °64, ject than the mere temporary feelings of bdis i t pity, we have given it just as we received It• on , serves to illustrate what the PAPISTS W' C Gi ll ij rawly maintained, viz. that THEIR RELIt in all respects IMMUTABLE • and t h e refor e f evident that the principles and dispositions ° followers, to whatever improved lit er alltV °f s ole , tirnent they may pretend, are exactly the roe and that if they had the same power ( )ler d o testants as they possessed in former per i° ‘ ls ' o ol hitter would have the same dati,ersi the 1,4 tyranny, and the same horrors to apprelienkt Tit E SUN is understood to be particularlyValfcrient, by THE CLERGY of our Orthodox Estab lisliill 4 o 4 we recommend this account of tlre horrors at Nismes, stated by our Correl °6 l,oo peculiarly to their notice, and earties4ll"%At them to atte4xl to it. They are generallY tli fse to be too supine in supporting the int erests°llcd PROTESTANT FAITH, and to that Cause the vast increase of Schism of various kin ds ' t oP °l' l therefore solemnly intreat them to rouse 0.00 alleged-supineness, and endeavour, by all P it' e ll means, to check the grovth `3cntsg, 351 v >0 t )l4 to repel the further encroachments 12). ti# CATHOLICS, and we again assure th en ' t ot he l. Columns of THE SU N shall be freely 0' 91 ,1," for that laudable purpose—a purpose , sential to the preservation of our unP3°' Constitution i i CHURC LI and STATE• t , ese tlie As there has been this day some Or e ' r ‘ion, at least, some misconception , o n tbe 441 cc o tir of Appointments to the Governments ilOtir, Possessions, we have made inquiry int fr s er tli and though we do not presume to steel:opli authority, yet we understand the fact to be 0 ,10 1 -that whereas' distinguished men et home or e sent otrt to these Governments, tb e r o le ; #l 2 of the Board of Controul, for the P ur i ' er e marking the high sense enter tained 11 ,, the talents and conduct of tire ContV9llo vants in the late transactions i° understood to have signified to the C °l ' - (r Government will be disposed to aie ce t be 6e succession of one of those servants ° j ot ! , vernment of Botnbay. The compliment 11; neral one to the servants of the C" 1111)311 ,!,;0_, 4 r Board of Controul, in naming three (.lis( t0 ; 1 ' 0 individuals, has relinquished, wit!' resreco l ,1 sa el o three, without prejudice to the 3. 00 0 1 of the of hers, the negative wbi ch P° i n 6 11 ' e ° power of giving to the choice , of the D►re otch t 0 . We have given a brief Report, holen t e 4 eport, all ll° lt l( r was necessary, considering th e 1 ,41' 4 4 ruption attending the Meeting, of o f s yesterday in Guildhlail, on the El'ec ti° o ho LORD MAYOR. • Mr. Alderman AT lo° ' fe ( t ~,br, the right of seniority, that which ('` t d, a dot ( 4 sake of tranquillity„ to be alway s - c on y (be . oP less there are strop reasons t° g Jai l into) jot and who has the. additional rec° tC It • oro v.; sound political principles, vas re l y on the OCCASi.OI3. e ti 4 6C for THE WEAVERS AT PRES I.66 oiOr• Ot *this 113 which are receiiied in • town 12r ott fse there mention, that the Wes able last week, assembled in consider f (b ell t 0 °‘ 5 44 particularly on Monday, when . c rea t hey In fil l raded the strc'erS.' 'Oll Tuesday k l e s r i,e' r 1200 and upwards. -On this darceess,d bY 'de were adareed6, 300 ; on which dily they Leader, whose iia-tne.i.s not mentio to o • 0 , e ablY , •ie rl • vised them to return home pcac ;ate I v oei r Weavers' tb e accordingly did, and to mg ll ° res „ ; boa ifi lo yer . ployment and finish what vv°r k th%eirellic picl) looms,and then again strike,%lotil t f ,i7B get; 0 1)c agreed to accede to their increase die 130'.00 was agreed upon. A troop , coo'.lelr or ttirt/3 Y Dragoons arrived there 0- a Sa boil.-- ti (0 be present to protect th e peace' s ltic .s 0145 vices be required at the meeting ,e• held On Monday by the Weavers- Yesterday the Illtissian An'l)l4-'':(11:0°11.;11a:111:1:r dience of the Pit INCP. RFGF'Sr', ilio)3o(o)'f,r, the Rooot „ri o t tv,e4 Ui Count LIEVEN, this Coort, ‘6ll Loi"l°c;Ii000 t'l„aalor, Aix-la-Chapelle, by the dir e perm.. Ili) Excellency sv 0 cr ets., ' . M. de POC.GE:CrUIit.... the - ^ rt. or collectively, by tleficiency of offi- cial organization. Distancei on the Continent are generally very imperfectly dice' ; the continent mode of computation is by posts or leagues, though these arc longer or shorter according to the nature of the roads ; it is not uncommon to calculate dis tances by time ; therefore 1 know of nothing cer tain, as with us, by measurement. Aix-la-Cha pelle is called about 5'21 posts front Paris. by Givet, Namur, and Liege ; and about 5-11 Brussels and Liege: from Cologne, about 84 posts ; 4 from Maestricht, 51 from Liege, 1.) from Brussels, by Liege, and 6 from Spa, by Batt ice. A. TII EATRICA I. It EG I E lt. PrrArnird .ViArht. II F.ATIIr. 'Roy tht! 13-enry, Mr. 11. Kemble; Aghtielti, Hiss 1.10;ce. After the " , ,vitier. . . Trl VE R MIYA L. EN 111.0114 Ore ST RA time}, Whit a PliV! sir Mr.Hatley: Nli , A Lore. After which, The ltendezvoui. To which was added, amateurs and Acl.orti. *.• Foir LoNnoN and PRoVrccIA inuft . :A r.q, see the Firs! Pate—nor ( NATIuS AT DKAL., and FuLneItAAVICICANA, set: the Last rage. Attrtivr.r3-1 Waterford, 1 Elamburgli. DvE-1 Waterford PRICE OF STOCKS TH IR ',Ay A'r o'rt.itetC. 3 per Cr nt. C0T15......75 7.11 Exch. Bitls, 2d... I ss. 17s. pr. 5 pvt Crnt. N. ,10n..... 1051 Oinnium ~...dis. India 735. 755. pr. Coos. for i‘cccount 75t 1 - 1[( 1 1 WATER AT LoNin)X Itltll►i:E Tn•IIfIItRO%V. morni„,;, 12 minutes Mier 3. I Evening, (ninnies after 3. 1 !i R•I 111 ii'